Honoring Innovative Contingent Workforce Programs

21 May 2012
by:
Subadhra Sriram

I remember when I first heard our president, Barry Asin, refer to contingent workforce managers as “pioneers.” There may not have been actual campfires and covered wagons, but these forerunners were metaphorically braving the wilds and struggling to gain a foothold.

That was December 2006. We have come a long way. Today, territories have been won and borders are being drawn. At the same time, the recession revealed the advantages of a contingent workforce. Corporate America was forced to rely on these workers and ended up buying into it. The word contingent worker became part of our vocabulary. And contingent workforce programs became far more commonplace.

In the same pioneering spirit with which it once legitimized this space, Staffing Industry Analysts is proud to announce the 2012 Case Study Competition at the upcoming CWS Summit in San Diego. As contingent workforce programs gained visibility in boardrooms, it’s clear that sophistication and practices vary when it comes to how these programs are being managed. We are honoring those innovative programs that make a difference.

It’s not about size of the program or the spend it involves. “The genius is in the small things that people do to improve their programs,” says Bryan Peña, VP of contingent workforce strategies and research. We will be focusing on invention. Stuff like creative markup strategies, a change in workflows to accommodate light industrial usage, ideas that make programs unique and help other companies improve their own.

For more information on how the competition will work and to submit your application, click here. The case study must be presented by company representatives at the CWS Summit, San Diego as part of the Thursday Sept.20 Keynote. (While providers of staffing services are encouraged to tell their clients to participate, they can’t submit on their behalf.) So folks please nominate or submit contingent workforce case studies that have grabbed you. We need these by July 17th so our internal team can choose the 5-7 finalists which will then be judged by the audience at San Diego. It’s great visibility for your program. And what’s more, you could be the lucky winner of a one-year North American Single Seat for the CWS Council.

Staffing Industry Analysts is the global advisor on contingent work. Known for its independent and objective insights, the company's proprietary research, award-winning content, data, support tools, publications, and executive conferences provide a competitive edge to decision-makers who supply and buy temporary staffing.